Comments on: Does Amazon have the next iPod? http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/ Get to grips with the issues affecting world business Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:43:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Matt http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-1474 Matt Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:59:31 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-1474 Commenter Michael M: Almost everything you said is untrue. You CAN, in fact, view PDFs on the Kindle, save for only the most complex among them. And only the books you buy from Amazon are proprietary. You can convert to the Amazon format from .txt, .html, .doc, .mobi, etc - as a matter of fact, Amazon will convert any of these files FOR YOU FOR FREE. And they all work flawlessly on the Kindle. The books are more expensive than what? Print editions? Uhhm ... no. Do a little more research. And you can get TONS of free books (i.e. classics/public domain works) from third parties, that work seamlessly on the Kindle. And finally, while you're correct that books bought through the Kindle Store cannot be shared (though I'm sure someone has found a workaround to this), your assertion that you lose everything you've purchased if your Kindle is lost, stolen or crashes is simply untrue. Everything you purchase through Amazon is backed up on your Amazon account and can be endlessly redownloaded, free of charge. Get your facts straight, my friend. Commenter Michael M:

Almost everything you said is untrue.

You CAN, in fact, view PDFs on the Kindle, save for only the most complex among them.

And only the books you buy from Amazon are proprietary. You can convert to the Amazon format from .txt, .html, .doc, .mobi, etc – as a matter of fact, Amazon will convert any of these files FOR YOU FOR FREE. And they all work flawlessly on the Kindle.

The books are more expensive than what? Print editions? Uhhm ... no. Do a little more research. And you can get TONS of free books (i.e. classics/public domain works) from third parties, that work seamlessly on the Kindle.

And finally, while you're correct that books bought through the Kindle Store cannot be shared (though I'm sure someone has found a workaround to this), your assertion that you lose everything you've purchased if your Kindle is lost, stolen or crashes is simply untrue. Everything you purchase through Amazon is backed up on your Amazon account and can be endlessly redownloaded, free of charge.

Get your facts straight, my friend.

]]> By: Susan http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-1319 Susan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:41:47 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-1319 Reminds me - I read a comment somewhere some time back suggesting that Amazon should GIVE these away, with some kind of subscription-based service where you sign up to agree to purchase X number of titles per month for a year or two. Now THAT'S a plan I could bite into! Reminds me – I read a comment somewhere some time back suggesting that Amazon should GIVE these away, with some kind of subscription-based service where you sign up to agree to purchase X number of titles per month for a year or two. Now THAT'S a plan I could bite into!

]]> By: Susan http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-1318 Susan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:37:40 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-1318 I would LOVE to have a Kindle, but it's primary hindrance for me and most of the folks I know who are interested in it is the PRICE! $400?!?! You're just plain kidding, right? At under $200 I MIGHT consider the purchase worthwhile, but at just under $400 it's too over the top an expense - particularly in this economy. And I am an AVID reader. I love everything about the Kindle and I want one BAD, but I won't be buying one until the price drops by at least half. I would LOVE to have a Kindle, but it's primary hindrance for me and most of the folks I know who are interested in it is the PRICE! $400?!?! You're just plain kidding, right? At under $200 I MIGHT consider the purchase worthwhile, but at just under $400 it's too over the top an expense – particularly in this economy. And I am an AVID reader. I love everything about the Kindle and I want one BAD, but I won't be buying one until the price drops by at least half.

]]> By: J,. Strickland http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-1317 J,. Strickland Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:21:43 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-1317 Ebooks can already be read In so many different forms today – dedicated readers such as mentioned in this article, PocketPCs, cellphones, notebook and desktop computers – that the author can reach the reader on the reader’s choice of platform. I’ve been reading and writing ebooks for years. As an author, there is nothing to compare with the instant feedback from readers for a book released a chapter at a time online. Literally, comments from my readers start arriving within minutes of the release of a new chapter. There are already online communities devoted to reading books electronically, as well as large selections available for purchase or for free. Today, readers number from tens of thousands to millions, depending on the particular work. What can we look forward to in the future? The ebook is not new. What is new is development of new platforms to attract those readers who haven’t ventured into the world of ebooks before. Ebooks can already be read In so many different forms today – dedicated readers such as mentioned in this article, PocketPCs, cellphones, notebook and desktop computers – that the author can reach the reader on the reader’s choice of platform. I’ve been reading and writing ebooks for years. As an author, there is nothing to compare with the instant feedback from readers for a book released a chapter at a time online. Literally, comments from my readers start arriving within minutes of the release of a new chapter.

There are already online communities devoted to reading books electronically, as well as large selections available for purchase or for free. Today, readers number from tens of thousands to millions, depending on the particular work. What can we look forward to in the future? The ebook is not new. What is new is development of new platforms to attract those readers who haven’t ventured into the world of ebooks before.

]]> By: Bill Roberson http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-1315 Bill Roberson Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:37:09 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-1315 I think the Sony Reader has a better form factor and I think that's what could ultimately drive e-books: their style and functionality. Once e-books gain color ability (while keeping the sharp paper-like text look they now have) and can handle Web browsing, they'll be off and running. This could be the start of the real "Ultra Mobile PC" (UMPC) that everyone is searching for. Give it a touchscreen for typing, email abilities, music and video playback and make it LOOK LIKE A NICE , THIN BOOK and you've got a winner. Most laptops, except the Apple Air, are clunky, heavy and not "pocketable." Give an ebook more laptop-like capabilities while preserving the book-like form factor and you've got the next iPod. Apple is probably building it right now (it's not a far cry from the Touch), Bezos, so get on the stick. ~ B.R. I think the Sony Reader has a better form factor and I think that's what could ultimately drive e-books: their style and functionality. Once e-books gain color ability (while keeping the sharp paper-like text look they now have) and can handle Web browsing, they'll be off and running. This could be the start of the real "Ultra Mobile PC" (UMPC) that everyone is searching for. Give it a touchscreen for typing, email abilities, music and video playback and make it LOOK LIKE A NICE , THIN BOOK and you've got a winner. Most laptops, except the Apple Air, are clunky, heavy and not "pocketable." Give an ebook more laptop-like capabilities while preserving the book-like form factor and you've got the next iPod. Apple is probably building it right now (it's not a far cry from the Touch), Bezos, so get on the stick. ~ B.R.

]]> By: Gwats http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-1174 Gwats Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:59:19 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-1174 I think a device like this would encourage my 15 year son to read more books vs. goofing off online. I'm going to buy one and heck it out thoroughly. I think a device like this would encourage my 15 year son to read more books vs. goofing off online. I'm going to buy one and heck it out thoroughly.

]]> By: Patrick http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-995 Patrick Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:36:26 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-995 Paper is not the issue. Most people do not know that we have special forests to produce the paper we use, if I remember well up to 90 %. So it's not like we're saving the rainforest by not using paper. Big fallacy. I think the fashion statement is certainly a big issue AND usage. You can run or work with a cool looking Ipod. You cannot do the same with the kindle. Another is target groups and usage. Older people like paper books. I am not so sure they will change except for certain groups where there is an added benefit such as "time". The younger generation would not necessarily feel that "tie to paper books only". So in terms of adaptability met bet is on the < 35 year olds or even the < 25 year olds. However do they like to read books ? And do they have the patience ? Paper is not the issue. Most people do not know that we have special forests to produce the paper we use, if I remember well up to 90 %. So it's not like we're saving the rainforest by not using paper. Big fallacy.

I think the fashion statement is certainly a big issue AND usage. You can run or work with a cool looking Ipod. You cannot do the same with the kindle.

Another is target groups and usage. Older people like paper books. I am not so sure they will change except for certain groups where there is an added benefit such as "time".

The younger generation would not necessarily feel that "tie to paper books only". So in terms of adaptability met bet is on the < 35 year olds or even the < 25 year olds. However do they like to read books ? And do they have the patience ?

]]> By: Ryan Bowers http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-831 Ryan Bowers Sun, 25 May 2008 08:40:50 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-831 Michael M said earlier.... "There are problems with the Kindle. You can’t put PDFs on it. it uses proprietary files, that you have to get from, guess who?, Amazon. The ebooks are expensive, not cheaper as they should be. And if you loose your Kindle or it crashes, you loose all the books you bought and would have to buy them again. You can’t share the books either. All this points to a big No Go for me." You can put PDF files on the Kindle, it just has to get "converted" to a readable format through Amazon's Kindle service. You simply email the file to your Kindle email address, it gets converted, and then you either download it onto your desktop computer for free, or it wirelesslyl sends to you for 10 cents. The ebooks are also NOT expensive. Easily less than half the price of the typical hardcover book on the first day of release. And as far as losing all your books if it "crashes" or gets "lost" , think again, you simply retransfer all your books from your online Amazon Kindle Library. It stores every single book you've ever ordered and allows you to delete and redownload for free at any given time. Please don't listen to ignorant comments from someone who is trying to bash a device they don't even know about. Do the research yourself if you're interested. I did, and I'm VERY impressed with the device. Now if only I could come home from Iraq to purchase one....hmm... Michael M said earlier....

"There are problems with the Kindle. You can’t put PDFs on it. it uses proprietary files, that you have to get from, guess who?, Amazon. The ebooks are expensive, not cheaper as they should be. And if you loose your Kindle or it crashes, you loose all the books you bought and would have to buy them again. You can’t share the books either.

All this points to a big No Go for me."

You can put PDF files on the Kindle, it just has to get "converted" to a readable format through Amazon's Kindle service. You simply email the file to your Kindle email address, it gets converted, and then you either download it onto your desktop computer for free, or it wirelesslyl sends to you for 10 cents. The ebooks are also NOT expensive. Easily less than half the price of the typical hardcover book on the first day of release. And as far as losing all your books if it "crashes" or gets "lost" , think again, you simply retransfer all your books from your online Amazon Kindle Library. It stores every single book you've ever ordered and allows you to delete and redownload for free at any given time.

Please don't listen to ignorant comments from someone who is trying to bash a device they don't even know about. Do the research yourself if you're interested. I did, and I'm VERY impressed with the device. Now if only I could come home from Iraq to purchase one....hmm...

]]> By: Christopher Darlington http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-729 Christopher Darlington Thu, 22 May 2008 11:43:16 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-729 I am currently studying my MBA, and in the process of Product innovation. This device was my new idea to world, now i have to invent something else because it's been done. Personally i think their is unlimited potential for this device. .WELL PLAYED I am currently studying my MBA, and in the process of Product innovation. This device was my new idea to world, now i have to invent something else because it's been done. Personally i think their is unlimited potential for this device. .WELL PLAYED

]]> By: Juergen Fassbender http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/21/does-amazon-have-the-next-ipod/#comment-726 Juergen Fassbender Thu, 22 May 2008 11:01:50 +0000 http://cnnibusiness.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-726 I own a MacBook Air and would be able to read books on this device which is not bigger than the amazon device. But the problem with all multimedia devices - smart phones etc is that they are connected to the outside world and have more functionality which will disctract you from reading sooner or later. Therefore a mono-functionality device may compete with books. But one thing we need to remember: Books are much friendlier to eyes than any screen can be. I own a MacBook Air and would be able to read books on this device which is not bigger than the amazon device.
But the problem with all multimedia devices – smart phones etc is that they are connected to the outside world and have more functionality which will disctract you from reading sooner or later. Therefore a mono-functionality device may compete with books.
But one thing we need to remember: Books are much friendlier to eyes than any screen can be.

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